1. BREAKING THE CARBON BARRIER: RELIGION & RISK REGIMES EC-US Task Force on Biotechnology Research Nanobiotechnology Workshop Ispra, Italy June 3, 2008 David M. Berube Co-ord, PCOST – Public Communication of Science and Technology North Carolina State University USA

2. PRINCIPLES Risk is a social construct. Risk is a social construct. Experts/publics differ on ranking risks. Experts/publics differ on ranking risks. Risks are attenuated/amplified by third parties, including NGOs and the media. Risks are attenuated/amplified by third parties, including NGOs and the media. Trust is always a factor in communicating risk. Trust is always a factor in communicating risk.

3. NANOBIO To the public, biotechnology remains an unknown. Nanotechnology is equally obtuse. Nanobiotechnology seems simply a made-up word. To the public, biotechnology remains an unknown. Nanotechnology is equally obtuse. Nanobiotechnology seems simply a made-up word. Examples. Examples. Medicine and health careMedicine and health care Environmental remediation.Environmental remediation. Agricultural productivity.Agricultural productivity. Human enhancement.Human enhancement.

4. FALLACIES & AXIOLOGIES Fallacies Fallacies Ecological fallacy (naturalness).Ecological fallacy (naturalness). Future generation fallacy.Future generation fallacy. Axiologies Axiologies Webs of value constructs.Webs of value constructs. Anecdotes, stories & epiphanies.Anecdotes, stories & epiphanies. Beliefs.Beliefs.

5. RELIGION, BELIEF & NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY Nanomedicine and nanobiology. Nanomedicine and nanobiology. Fear of deathFear of death Coat-tails phenomenon.Coat-tails phenomenon. Fundamental principles. Fundamental principles. Humanity and godliness.Humanity and godliness. Nature/unnaturalness & dominion.Nature/unnaturalness & dominion. Dehumanization.Dehumanization.

6. EXAMPLES from USA Examples (non-rational systems). Examples (non-rational systems). Abortion.Abortion. Embryonic stem cell research.Embryonic stem cell research. Gay marriage.Gay marriage. Implications Implications Lopsided debate; no middle ground.Lopsided debate; no middle ground. Beliefs and dogma as warrants.Beliefs and dogma as warrants. Accommodation and compromiseAccommodation and compromise are sinful.

7. PUBLIC RISK PERCEPTION Deep and emotional; confronting dispositional or eliminativism. Deep and emotional; confronting dispositional or eliminativism. Belief and the heresiarch, science in the role of Arius and King Henry VIII. Belief and the heresiarch, science in the role of Arius and King Henry VIII. Scientists as endoheretics (Asimov). Scientists as endoheretics (Asimov). a non-crackpot or charlatan.a non-crackpot or charlatan. Religion becomes grounds for warrants as well as an amplifier. Religion becomes grounds for warrants as well as an amplifier.

8. STRATEGIC CONSIDERATIONS Denial = heresy. Denial = heresy. Scientific mission and can/should conundrum. Scientific mission and can/should conundrum. Recasting the role of science. Recasting the role of science. Proselytizing/conversion as a rhetorical tactic. Proselytizing/conversion as a rhetorical tactic.

9. NEW RISK REGIME Consensuality and stakeholding; opening the debate for religious arguments. Consensuality and stakeholding; opening the debate for religious arguments. Threshold free and slippery slopes; most belief driven arguments are totalistic. Threshold free and slippery slopes; most belief driven arguments are totalistic. Politics of belief; learn from Politics of belief; learn from the right wing conservatives.

10. EC-US COOPERATION Draft a statement on the ethics of nanobiotechnology. Draft a statement on the ethics of nanobiotechnology. Track discoveries – proof of concepts and product lines. Track discoveries – proof of concepts and product lines. Share data sets associated with nanobiotechnology. Share data sets associated with nanobiotechnology. Design an appropriate risk Design an appropriate riskregime.

11. THANKS dmberube@ncsu.edu This work was supported by grants from the National Science Foundation, NSF 06-538 Nanotechnology Undergraduate Education (NUE): Nanoscience and Technology Studies Cognate, and NSF 06-595, Nanotechnology Interdisciplinary Research Team (NIRT): Intuitive Toxicology and Public Engagement.